Eddie Johnston facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Eddie Johnston
Born	(1935-11-24) November 24, 1935 (age 89) Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Height	6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Weight	190 lb (86 kg; 13 st 8 lb)
Position	Goaltender
Caught	Left
Played for	Boston Bruins Toronto Maple Leafs St. Louis Blues Chicago Black Hawks
Playing career	1956–1978

Edward "Eddie" Johnston, born on November 24, 1935, is a Canadian ice hockey legend. He played as a goaltender and later became a coach and general manager in the National Hockey League (NHL). Eddie's career in hockey lasted an amazing 53 years! He spent 22 years as a player and 31 years in management.

He won two Stanley Cups as a player with the Boston Bruins in 1970 and 1972. He won a third Stanley Cup in 2009 with the Pittsburgh Penguins as a senior advisor. He worked for the Penguins for 25 years in different roles. Eddie Johnston was also the last NHL goalie to play every single minute of every game in a season, back in 1963-64.

Playing Hockey: Eddie's Goalie Career

Johnston at the TD Garden in 2010.

Eddie Johnston grew up in Montreal, Canada. He was often called "E.J." by his friends and teammates. He loved ice hockey from a young age and decided to become a goaltender.

Eddie started his hockey journey in 1953 with the Montreal Junior Royals. He played in minor leagues for six years. During this time, he won several championships. In 1962, he joined the Boston Bruins. This was the team he would play for during most of his NHL career.

In the 1963-64 season, Eddie made history. He played every single minute of every game during the regular season. No other NHL goalie has done that since!

For his first five seasons, the Bruins were not a very strong team. They often finished in last place. But things changed after 1967. The Bruins got amazing players like Bobby Orr and Phil Esposito. The team became a powerhouse! They won the Stanley Cup in 1970 and again in 1972. Eddie was a backup goalie to Gerry Cheevers during these wins.

In 1972, Eddie was chosen as a backup goalie for Team Canada. He played in some practice games for the Summit Series. After his time with the Bruins, Eddie played for the Toronto Maple Leafs for one season. Then, he joined the St. Louis Blues for three seasons. He finished his playing career in 1978 with the Chicago Black Hawks.

At the end of his playing career, Eddie was one of the top goalies in NHL history. He was ninth in games played and sixteenth in wins.

In 1968, Eddie had a scary moment during a warm-up. He was hit in the head by a powerful shot from Bobby Orr. He had to spend six weeks in the hospital recovering.

Eddie recorded seven playoff wins for the Boston Bruins. As of 2019, this ranks him 13th on the Bruins' all-time list for playoff victories by a goaltender. He also has 27 regular-season shutouts for Boston. This puts him fifth on the Bruins' all-time list, just ahead of his teammate Gerry Cheevers.

From Player to Coach and Manager

After retiring as a player, Eddie Johnston quickly moved into coaching. In 1979, he became the head coach of the Chicago Blackhawks. The next year, he became the head coach of the Pittsburgh Penguins. In 1983, he was named the Penguins' general manager. He held this important job for five years.

As general manager, Eddie made a huge decision. He oversaw the team's choice of Mario Lemieux in the entry draft. Lemieux became one of the greatest hockey players ever! Eddie once said that without Lemieux, the Penguins' home arena "would be a parking lot." This shows how important Lemieux was to the team's survival.

After leaving the Penguins in 1988, Eddie became the general manager for the Hartford Whalers. He helped the Whalers reach the playoffs in each of his four seasons there. One of his most talked-about decisions was trading star player Ron Francis to Pittsburgh. This trade helped the Penguins win two Stanley Cups in 1991 and 1992. The Whalers, however, never made the playoffs again after Eddie left.

Eddie returned to the Pittsburgh Penguins as head coach in 1993. He coached the team until 1997. After that, he became the assistant general manager. In 2006, he was named Senior Adviser for Hockey Operations. In this role, he finally won his first Stanley Cup with the Penguins in 2009. This was his first Cup win as a manager, and his first since 1972!

Johnston in Pittsburgh for the final regular season game at Mellon Arena, April 2010.

In 2009, Eddie announced he would semi-retire after Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals. On April 8, 2010, he was honored with over 50 former Penguins players. This was at a special ceremony before the last regular season game at Mellon Arena.

As of July 2025, Eddie Johnston is still involved in hockey. He works as the deputy commissioner for the 3-on-3 professional ice hockey league, 3ICE. His son, E.J. Johnston, is the CEO of the league. Eddie also coached his own team in the 3ICE league during the 2023 season.

Awards and Achievements

• EHL First All-Star Team (1960)
• EPHL First All-Star Team (1961)
• WHL Second All-Star Team (1962)
• Elizabeth C. Dufresne Trophy (1964)
• 5 time Stanley Cup champion (1970, 1972, 2009, 2016, 2017)
• Named to play for Team Canada in the 1972 Summit Series.
• Named One of the Top 100 Best Bruins Players of all Time.

Career Statistics

Regular Season and Playoffs

Coaching Record